Coming attractions for Aug. 11, 2011

The Egg in Albany adds to its fall schedule with two shows from artists familiar to both the venue and the area. Tickets to both go on sale Tuesday.Richard Thompson, renowned folk rocker and recent Officer of the Order of the British Empire awardee, comes to town on Thursday, Oct. 13. Still known for his short tenure with Fairport Convention and his duo act with ex-wife Linda, he’s been pumping out solo albums since 1983.
Idaho-born singer-songwriter and newly minted novelist — his debut historical novel, “Bright’s Passage,” came out in June – Josh Ritterreturns Friday, Oct. 14, to The Egg. His acclaimed American stylings and grooming by neuroscientist parents add up to an eclectic and engaging set list.It’s the music, man
You can mellow out at two music festivals coming to the area. From Thursday, Aug. 18, through Sunday, Aug. 21, the Bella Terra Festival at Gardner’s Field in Stephentown features a lineup of jam and Dead-influenced acts that will warm your hacky sack: The Micky Hart Band, Buckethead, Boombox, Rubblebucket, Zach Deputy, Hot Buttered Rum, Papadosio, Wes N Worrell, the Deadbeats and more.
Meanwhile, Hippiefest is coming Thursday, Oct. 13, to the Palace Theatre in Albany. Your definition of what makes up a “hippie band” may differ, but set for the show are Dave Mason from Traffic, Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad, Rick Derringer and Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals.Rucker countryDarius “Don’t Call Me Hootie” Rucker continues his successful country music career with a stop at the Glens Falls Civic Center in Glens Falls on Thursday, Oct. 6. Rodney Atkins opens the show. Tickets go on sale to the public at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 20.

The Linda’s lineup
Who’s coming to The Linda, WAMC’s Performing Arts Studio, in Albany, you ask? None other than Jimmy Webb on Saturday, Nov. 5. Think you don’t know him? Think again. He’s a legendary singer-songwriter for himself and others. Here’s a taste of his work: “By the Time I Get to Phoenix,” “Up, Up, and Away,” “The Worst That Could Happen,” “MacArthur Park,” “Galveston,” “Wichita Lineman,” “Where’s the Playground Susie?” “Didn’t We?” and “The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress.”

Not to be confused with the late cabaret singer Bobby Short, British folk-rock singer-songwriter Bobby Long comes to The Linda on Sunday, Nov. 6. Next up is the Chandler Travis Philharmonic on Saturday, Nov. 19; Cape Cod icon Travis heads up a kitchen sink ensemble of musicians and styles. Finally, Boise-born singer-songwriter Eilen Jewell performs on Saturday, Dec. 3.No need to Panic!
Alternative duo Panic! at the Disco headlines a show at Northern Lights in Clifton Park on Thursday, Oct. 27, with special guest Foxy Shazam.
Metal comes to Northern Lights on Friday, Dec. 9, when Between the Buried and Me is the big name on a bill that also includes Animals and Leaders and Tesseract (or the four-dimensional analog of a cube. Now that’s hard-core.).Next on? Sexton

Syracuse singer-songwriter Martin Sexton, he of the uncommonly varied vocals, heads to Club Helsinki in Hudson on Saturday, Dec. 3.Electronic jamThe duo EOTO (pronounce it like Kyoto), an electronic music offshoot of jam band the String Cheese Incident, loops around to Jillian’s in Albany on Thursday, Oct. 13.Bearsville goes Dark
And speaking of hippies, jam bands and the Dead, the “ultimate” Grateful Dead tribute band, Dark Star Orchestra, comes back to our area with a show at Bearsville Theater in Woodstock on Sunday, Nov. 27.

Monkees and other no-shows

Despite the big opening of “Rise of the Planet of the Apes,” the Monkees couldn’t keep the primate streak going. They’ve canceled their Sept. 9 Palace Theatre concert (which had already been moved from the Times Union Center), as well as the rest of their 45th anniversary tour, due to “internal group issues and conflicts.”

The M. Ward show at MASS MoCA in North Adams, Mass., is a no-go due to the cancellation of the nearby Music to Know Festival in East Hampton this weekend, altering his travel plans.

And George Winston, the New Age composer and pianist, was just announced for The Egg on Oct. 28, but his show also is not happening.